by Mollie Millington | Sep 8, 2021 | clothes, fashion, product review
Full disclosure: In this post, I will be talking about stress incontinence when running, peeing my pants, my private parts, periods, and more. If that is TMI (or we are related), you might want to give it a miss. However, if you want to learn about ways to live with stress incontinence, please read on!
There may be various reasons what you want to try out absorbent underwear for periods and incontinence. Personally, I suffer from stress incontinence when I run (even more so when my hay fever is acting up) even though I have never given birth. It is extremely frustrating and embarrassing. When it first started happening a few years ago with only a few drops, I would wear Runderwear due to how quickly it dries. But the last two years, things how gotten out of control. I am currently waiting for a gynecological referral and am using a Perifit to strengthen my pelvic floor in the meantime. Over the last two years, I have gained 15+ pounds and have read that weigh gain can cause incontinence. Hopefully, the solution will be straightforward enough that I can resolve this soon.
Another reason might be to lesson your ecological impact on the planet. Pads, tampons, and liners normally have plastic and will end up in a landfill. A preference towards reusable options is more sustainable. Although the initial investment might seem like a lot, wearing absorbent underwear can save you money in the long run.
Before you invest in these fancy pants, there are a few things to consider. First is absorbency and related gusset thickness. You will have an idea of how heavy or light your flow is, as well as how much you leak when incontinence hits. I tried to highlight what the brands report below, but I still find it hard to quantify in comparison to my pads and tampons. I usually just go by how the pad/tampon looks and base my judgement around that. None of the products below feel too bulky (do you remember the pads you wore in high school? My Always were at least a centimetre thick!) but you can tell a bit when wearing the very absorbent ones. Most of the absorbent pants I find are black, which makes it hard to tell how ‘full’ they are. Predominantly, I use the pants below for stress incontinence when running as I have reusable pads but now that my underwear drawer is full of absorbent pants, why save them just for my runs?
Second, look at the design of the pants. Do you want a thong, high brief, bikini cut, or boy short? Luckily, there are several different style and gusset shape combinations to choose from across all brands. I have realized that I don’t like to run in pants where the gusset goes up the back to the waistband. While this is good for overnight protection, it just makes my bum hot when I wear a bum bag on a run. It might help you with bladder leaks depending on your situation though.
The last factor to consider when you order period/incontinence pants is how to wash them. Do they need to be hand washed? Gentle cycle? Line dry? This might influence which brand you want to invest in. All the brands above say not to use fabric softener but vary in temperatures and how to dry. If you take good care of these pants, they should last you a while. After a run, I tend to rinse my pants with cold water and a little bit of hand soap if I am not washing them right away (for example, if I ran to work and then showered). If I am on my period, I still rinse after use and wait until the water is clear before stopping. We tend to wash our clothes at 30-40 degrees C anyways and always line dry (dryers are a rarity in the UK and oh how I miss having one). Using a lingerie bag can help protect your delicates too but I usually forget.
One thing I want to say before highlighting products individually below is that every pair of pants still leaked through to my leggings and shorts. My gut feeling is that it is due to the force of the urine stream (when coughing rather than just running) ‘splashing’ out of the underwear or the pants not being able to absorb the liquid fast enough. Think about the consistency of blood versus urine, for example. My flow tends to be thick which will take longer to absorb than urine. If you are worried about this, black leggings seem to hide the leaks best, but unfortunately, they do not cover the odor.
Ready to learn more about my experience? Please remember that preference for products is very individual so please do some additional research to ensure you find the right fit. Most companies will not allow underwear to be returned once opened.
Speax was the first brand that I had heard of whose design was specifically for leaks. It is the sister brand of Thinx, which is a period underwear. I ordered two pairs in February 2020 for $35 and $39 (sent to my mom’s when we were visiting home). The current website says these panties can hold up to 8 teaspoons of liquid (thongs only 3 teaspoons and one teaspoon is 5 ml) and have anti-odour technology. There are four layers in the gusset to ensure they are moisture eliminating and absorbent too. They now also come in a variety of colours and patterns but mine are just black. Individual pants vary in price from £20-30 here in the UK, but there are custom and saver sets that get bring the price down. I consider Speax to be my trusted friend for long runs because I have been using them for so long.
BP3 Underwear I have ordered twice, in May 2020 and May 2022. Each pair cost me £18 which is why they were initially appealing. BP3’s USP is their scallop edging that makes VPL’s a thing of the past. They consider themselves leak-proof pants that can be used for both periods and leaks (I tend to use these for stress incontinence only). They have several styles available and each one has a different absorbency rating. The Sarah Sporty, for example, is classified as light absorbency and is able to hold up to 10 ml, or two tampons, of liquid. With my last order, BP3 kindly included a small lingerie bag to protect my pants in the washing machine. The styles I have (one is even blue!) are lower cut that Speax and the gusset feels thinner. I am still happy with the protection BP3 offers from leaks when on runs up to 1-2 hours.
Iceni Silver* is a brand I discovered on Twitter. It was created by British friends who have sporty daughters that needed a solution to being active females. Their pants are very affordable (£22-£29), very comfortable and made in Great Britian. These are actually period pants but can be used for incontinence as well. Iceni is the only brand I have seen that offers a short-style with a longer inseam than a boy short. The silver lining (come on, I had to!) is Iceni’s USP. SILVADUR (TM) is the anti-microbial fabric layer that minimized microbes and thus the smell that comes from sweat. Iceni pants can hold up to 40 ml of liquid and the cotton layer absorbs moisture 20x faster. I found the Hipster to be super comfortable to run in and very absorbent as well.
Primark has recently launched a cost effective period underwear. My pants were only £6. These have a very thin absorbent layer that continues up the back of the pants to the waist. These were only available in a blush color. The fabric is synthetic which made it very hot when I was running so I only tried them once and said never again on a run. This marathon training cycle has been during the summer and I have been overheating on runs regularly and don’t need any more help feeling hot. There isn’t a lot of absorbency based on how thick the pants feel (Primark says the light to medium flow pants can hold three tampons worth (18 ml) and medium to heavy flow can hold four tampons (24 ml) worth). Because the fabric isn’t breathable enough for me when I run, I now wear them at the end of my period when there is light spotting as I am not sure how much I trust the thin gusset.
Pelvi, an Australian brand, makes period pants, kegel trainers, and moon cups. These were a bargain at TK Maxx for £8 (but also not in my size) and an impulse purchase because I had never heard of this brand. I love the detail of lace on the top as most of my period pants are just black and hard to tell apart, especially before I have had caffeine in the morning. Because I bought one size up, these really remind me of granny panties because they are so darn big. The absorbent gusset wraps from the waistline in the front all the way to the waistline the in back. Pelvi claims their period pants that can also be used for light bladder leaks and sweat. With three absorbent layers, Pelvi offers protection for up to twelve hours. I just wore mine on a 65 minute run. They felt a little warm but I has capris on in 22 degree C heat. I thought the gusset would protect a leak in the front, but sadly not. The lace trim on the waistband was unnoticeable, which was a relief. I worried it would chafe. Due to these pants being a size too big for me, I will probably save for overnights when i am on my period.
If you have any other underwear brands you would recommend for stress incontinence, please let a comment and let me know. Stay tuned because I want to make a short video soon to demonstrate how much water each of the above can absorb without leaking through the material because I really do think it is the urine steam force that causes my leggings to get wet. When I have it on YouTube, I will share the link here, so check back soon.
*Thanks to Iceni for gifting me their pants to trial. All views are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Sep 1, 2021 | fitness, product review, technology
With degrees in science, I am all about the data. My first session with new personal training clients always involved body measurements and baseline fitness assessments. We check in every eight weeks to ensure the program is delivering what the client wants. I also have a handheld device that can measure percent body fat. BMI is not something that I promote to my clients as a way to measure overall health. It is based purely on a calculation that does not take into account how a person is built and how strong they are. I am huge fan of my Sunnto watch which links to Strava, where I log all of my runs, rides, and swims (do you follow me?) to look at how my performance changes over time. You may also recall this previous post where I spoke about a new tool called Supersapiens that helps monitor your blood glucose levels. Every day, there seems to be a new piece of technology to help people learn more about their body and how they can optimize training and nutrition for their goals.
My Vital Metrics is a new London lab that offers clients the options of the following services: DEXA Scan, a 3D body map, body composition scan, resting metabolic rate, and VO2 Max testing. The owner, Owen, is a personal trainer who opened My Vital Metrics to help clients adjust their training focus based on scientific assessments with aesthetic visualizations. The data gathered during your session will help you know your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) which influences how many calories you need to consume to gain or loose weight. The 3D body map takes away the human error element when measuring with a tape measure (measuring can be tricky over Zoom especially if your client does not have a tape measure). VO2 Max measures your cardiovascular performance and efficiency while you are going at your maximum on a treadmill or stationary bike.
I was very lucky that Owen invited me to My Vital Metrics to try out his scans and discuss how he can help my coaching clients. He was very easy to talk to and welcomed me into his lab. After chatting for 10 minutes about life in London as ex-pats, I found myself in a sports bra and Runderwear awaiting 360 degree photographs and body scans. Given how I have been feeling about my weight over the last two years, I was a bit nervous about this. Working with a nutritionist in the past, I have many before and after photos in the same outfit but this 3D scan leaves no place to hide. Owen pointed out that when I come back for a new set of 3D measurements, my data will show me precisely how much my measurements have changed (both in measurements and also cross-sections). He offers packages and memberships for regular visits, which is extremely appealing if you have specific goals you are working towards. I feel having an appointment in the diary can be very motivating and will offer greater insight on whether my training and nutrition plan is working for me.
DEXA is the gold standard for body composition analysis, measuring how much body fat and/or muscle you have. For this, I simply had to lay very still as the machine passed over my body a few times. One of the reasons I wanted to get the DEXA scan was to see if visceral fat (the kind of fat that wraps around your internal organs) is the cause of my increasingly annoying incontinence issue. The results below show no visceral fat. I am not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, it is good news because visceral fat is something that raises the risk for major health complications. On the other, I am very frustrated that I still don’t know why my incontinence has been getting worse over the last year. On a side note, the DEXA revealed just how much stronger my right arm and leg are than my left by measuring the amount of muscle (data not shown).
After Owen collected all of the data from my scans, he offered a written action plan on how I can loose weight over 16 weeks, which was our agreed upon goal. Based on my BMR (which was a little high because I had a Red Bull just before my appointment, oops!), I need to aim for 1500 calories for a daily calorie deficit of 494 calories. He set target ideal body fat percentage and an aim to increase my lean body mass. Now I just need to quit my daily cookie diet to see the results. To keep this goal an achievable balance with marathon training, I have decided to wait until after the marathon to worry too much about my diet. Looking at my Strava stats, I spend about seven to eight hours per week on training so that should give me time to meal plan and cook (and hopefully sleep).
Although the scans also identify bone density, this is not a medical diagnostic service. Owen has been able to highlight anomalies for clients to follow up with their GP, which I think is fantastic. Knowledge is power and with the NHS overwhelmed with Covid-caused backlog, these assessments will help you reach health and fitness goals with the possibility that if something major is amiss, it might get picked up. Owen is quite keen to align with personal trainers, nutritionists, and other health practitioners who would find this client data useful. If you think it would be a valuable asset to add to your services, I highly recommend getting in touch with Owen. He has offered my followers who can come to his office in Central London a 20% discount code. It will be a fantastic way to learn about your bone health, muscle mass, and body composition. Send an email to mollie@ptmollie.com to receive the code and let me know what you find out.
Thanks to My Vital Metrics for the complimentary service. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | May 7, 2021 | clothes, product review, sponsored post
When I saw that my blood sugar could be monitored in real time using the Supersapiens app and an Abbott blood glucose sensor, I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread (Facebook advert algorithms work!). As a scientist, anything that provides data on my performance helps me understand what is going well and what isn’t. As a person with a very sensitive stomach, I am cautious about what I use as fuel during training. At some of my World Marathon Major races, I stopped five times to use the bathroom. This makes it very hard to PB if you are constantly wondering if you will have an accident and where the location of the next toilet is. The technology the Supersapiens app is offering, along with the Abbott Libre sensor, will hopefully help me nail down how often I need to fuel (maybe not every 5k?) and what works best for a stable blood glucose.
Many diabetics use a biosensor to monitoring their glucose levels through interstitial fluid rather than the traditional finger prick to obtain blood. The Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor tracks glucose every five minutes via an app or monitor. There is no limitation on the range of readings and you can program an alarm to indicate if the glucose reading it too high or too low. In contrast, the Libre sensor tracks in real time via Blue Tooth range of 50-200mg/dL. For this reason, the Libre sensor is not suitable for diabetics.
I have only worn the biosensor a few days so far, but already have a few tips on how to make the most out of your sensor. In all the photos on the Supersapiens website (and this blog post), the sensor is applied to the outside of the arm. Three days after applying my first sensor, I knocked it off by bumping into the door frame. May I suggest mounting the sensor on the inside or underneath your arm? One of the other ambassadors purchased an armband holder* to keep the sensor in place. Rotate where you put the sensor so the skin can heal. I have read that a few diabetics will put their sensor on their thigh or chest but I have not seen this an an approved spot to wear the Libre sensor. Before application, clean area (use hand sanitizer or ethanol to remove oil from the skin) and shave the area if it is hairy to ensure a good seal with the sticky pad. The sensor will stay on for a shower and for up to 30 minutes when swimming in shallow water. You can buy a single use performance patch for races to ensure it does not come off. My friend who is diabetic says she uses athletic tape to adhere the sensor sometimes but can’t guarantee how long it will stay on for.
Over the first week, I had to get used to maintaining connectivity via Bluetooth. Sometimes the sensor disconnected and I had to initially reconnect with NFC to sync to my phone before the Bluetooth kicked in. I am not a very techy person, so if you have any tips on the connectivity, please leave a comment below. While I was sleeping, the app and sensor disconnected but this may be to my phone going into power saving mode. The biosensor will hold data for a maximum of eight hours. Luckily, Maple never lets me sleep in late so I was able to see my glucose is fairly stable while I sleep.
The more information you can add to your glucose graph, the better, as that is how you can start to understand how your body creates and uses glucose. I love how you can enter ‘events’ to the graph to log when you eat, sleep, fast, stressed and/or exercise. I would suggest entering events after they occur as the time options are not in real time. I just kept a small list of things to log throughout the day and sat down at night to record them. Many of the members of the Ambassador Facebook group have commented on how combining foods will affect the glucose reaction. For example, eating pasta alone causes a spike but if you add vegetables and beans, the glycogen is released more slowly.
Supersapiens has a large knowledge area to its website, where you can read more about glucose monitoring. They also have a Strava club, Facebook group and Zoom calls every week to talk to their experts (although Zoom might be for ambassadors only). To learn more about glucose monitoring, as well as some tricks and hacks for the continuous glucose monitors, check out Type One Talks on YouTube. I find his info very useful. He even reviewed the Libre sensor.
Are you interested in trying these sensors out? Apply to become a Supersapiens Ambassador via this link. You would be in the company of Nick Butter, the first person to run a marathon in every country in the world, is currently circumnavigating Great Britain by running 200 marathons in 100 days. Fuelling will be a large part of making this challenge a success. Another name you may have heard of is Eliud Kipchoge, who is also using the Supersapiens app and Libre sensors to maximize his performance. I am excited to say he and I will both be at Tokyo Marathon in October, but I don’t think I will be able to catch him.
I will be wearing my remaining sensors in an inconspicuous place for the next six weeks in the hopes that they last the entire two weeks. I haven’t decided yet whether I will be investing in the biosensor and app in the long term yet. Now that I just started working with a run coach, it is the perfect time to focus on the fuelling aspect too and use the data alongside her sessions. I would love to hear if you think glucose monitoring is the way forward and if you have any questions about how it works. Leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer them in my follow up post.
This post was sponsored by Myprotein. They also gave me the clothes in the photos above. The pink outfit is from their Adapt range, red and black from their Power Ultra 2.0 range, and casual wear from their Raw Training line. Supersapiens sent me complimentary sensors as part of their ambassador program. All opinions are honest and my own.
*Affiliate link, which costs the buyer nothing additional and helps pay for this site
by Mollie Millington | Apr 5, 2021 | product review, water sports
Even though I miss the four proper seasons I grew up with, the lack of snow in London means you can still play outside in the winter. Whether it is running, cycling, swimming, or paddleboarding, if you can brave the wet and cold, you can get outside. The pandemic put a wrench in things this winter, but lockdown regulations are finally lifting. Open water swimming is allowed, we can meet in groups of six for a run or cycle, and we can go a little bit farther from home now (but not too far).
Winter water sports are a bit more complicated because you want to stay warm (and dry) as much as possible. This means you need to pack a few extra bits to make it more enjoyable. Here are a few things I have found to be very useful to help me stay warm (and happy). Let me know in the comment below if you would add anything.
During
Lifestraw GO water bottle* (freshwater only) – Even though it it cold and you might not be sweating, you need to stay hydrated. The Lifestraw filters will remove up to 99% of the nasties in the water. You don’t need to carry extra water with you. It is only able to work with fresh water though, not salt.
Swimming booties and gloves (optional) – My feet and hands always get cold. Walking into the water to mount my board and small splashes will keep getting my feet wet, so I recommend wearing neoprene boots or socks. I used my open water swimming socks, however these are not durable enough for rough terrain. Your hands might also get wet, so neoprene gloves might be important. If you wear gloves, make sure you have a grip texture on them so keep your hands on the paddle.
Neoprene clothes – What you wear on the board will depend on the weather, if you tend to feel hot or cold, if you think you will fall in the water, how long will you be paddling for, etc. I like the Mountain Warehouse women’s full wetsuit*. The knees are reinforced and there is a small pocket for key. The pattern is a contour design with different thickness fabrics on different parts of the body.
Some people prefer to wear neoprene trousers instead and a warm top with a breathable waterproof jacket. It might be trial and error the first few times you go out in colder weather. If you don’t wear a wetsuit, go for layers to help regulate your body temperatures.
Waterproof bag – The Aquapac Debbie waterproof bag* is perfect for a wallet, keys, and anything else you want to keep dry. You can wear it around your waist or as a crossbody bag. I fell in the water wearing it once and can assure you that everything stayed dry. You just need to ensure you close it properly. It is also great at keeping items sand-free.
Warm hat (optional) – Much like the clothes you are wearing, a warm hat might help you stay warm or make you overheat.
After
Changing robe – I am so lucky that James surprised me a Red Paddle changing robe for my birthday in February. For those not in the know, it is a large fleece lined jacket that you can change under. Not only will it keep you warm on land, but it will also give a warm and discreet place to change out of wet clothes.
Towel – You never know when/if you will fall in, so keep a towel on hand. At least you can dry off your feet or board with it.
Dry clothes to change in – Again, you never know what will happen, to you or someone you have met on the water. Keep a dry set of clothes handy. Hyperthermia is no joke.
Reusable coffee cup and flask of hot drink (optional) – Something to warm you up right away might be a big comfort when you get back to shore.
Hot water bottle (optional) – This might not be necessary if you don’t feel the cold much or if the sun is shining. Depending on how long your journey is to get home or if you have a car, you might find the water bottle too heavy to carry around.
This list might not have missed a few things depending on where you live. I encourage you to do more research and ask your local SUP club. Go Paddling is a wonderful resource for those in UK. Learn new skills by taking a paddling course through Paddles Up Training. Don’t let the weather keep you stuck at home. Preparation is key. Aim to keep warm and dry as best as you can.
Share your winter SUP essentials in the comments below!
Items marked with a * were graciously given me to review. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 11, 2021 | health, product review
This post contains photos of my ears and the wax. If that grosses you out, you might want to avoid the lower half of this post.
When I was in kindergarten, my parents had my hearing check because I was loud. At the time, my hearing was fine. I did need to go to my paediatrician a few times though to have ear wax removed though as I grew up. I remember it performed using a water pick of some sort and the wax looked like chocolate chips. Over the years, and especially since moving to the UK, I have struggled to hear people in pubs or while at work (where there are lots of pumps running in the background). I even went to my doctor to ask about a hearing test because I was tired of asking people to repeat themselves. He looked in my ears and said there was too much wax to request a test. Unless I had the wax removed, he would not refer me. I tried to remember to add olive oil drops into my ears daily, but kept forgetting. There never seems a good time to lay down without risking oil stains on my pillowcase.
The overproduction of ear wax seems to run in my family. My grandfather had this issue too and once he got hearing aids, it became more of a problem. I now know not to stick anything sharper than my elbow into my ear, but I also admit that in college I used cotton buds (Q-tips for you Americans) to clean out my ears daily. I don’t use anything now to clean my ears aside from warm water in the shower. Last summer, when I was swimming on a weekly basis, I was worried that I would get water caught in my ear behind the wax. This had happened years ago and was not very pleasant. But I lucked out this time.
With the Covid-19 situation, doctor offices are reluctant to see someone in person if the situation is not critical. I completely understand this. Since the first UK lockdown in March 2020, I have had one telephone appointment for my skin condition and had to text over a photo, but any concerns about the ear would probably have to be in person.
When I heard about Auris Ear Care, I knew this was the perfect solution for me and my ear wax issues. Auris Ear Care is a mobile ear cleaning clinic that not only removes wax, but foreign objects too. So if your kid gets something lodged in their ear, you don’t need to go to the emergency room to have it removed. You can have it done in the comfort of your own home. The Auris Ear Care ear, nose, and throat doctor also offer ear infection treatments, prescribe medication for it, and take microbiological ear swabs if needed.
Scheduling the appointment was very simple and I was given an appointment within 24 hours. This may have been to my geographic location as Dr. Rampuri was in East London the following day. He even called to say he was running ahead of schedule and could come by earlier. That worked out perfectly for me because I was working from home and had two meetings scheduled after my appointment was due to end. Dr. Rampuri arrived wearing a mask and gloves. My husband and I decided to also wear masks because we would be in close proximity to Dr. Rampuri and didn’t want to risk Covid spread (I wipes all used surfaces and doorknobs after Dr. Rampuri left). A small table and cleaning station was quickly set up before we reviewed my medical history. I signed a release form (there is less than 5% risk of something going wrong) and then it was time to look in my ears. Dr. Rampuri didn’t even need an otoscope to confirm they were full of wax.
This little machine allows for the microsuction of the ear wax and is much safer that other methods, such as candling, syringing, or irrigation. Dr. Rampuri tested the suction on my cheek first so I could because acclimatized to the feeling. It didn’t feel very strong against my skin, but in my ear I could feel and hear the wax slowly being pulled away from the ear canal. The procedure didn’t hurt, just felt a bit weird (because how often have you had suction in your ear canal?).
The above is what was lodged in my right ear. My left ear had a little bit less. Each ear only took a few minutes to clean out. Most of Auris Ear Care appointments take 20 minutes or less in total. Dr. Rampuri suggests that everyone should have their ears examined on a yearly basis. I am going to try to keep up an olive oil regime of 1-2 drops on a weekly basis to try to keep things a bit more clear in there. While he was at the house, Dr. Rampuri suggested looking at James’ ears. Apparently, some people get so used to having wax blockage, they don’t even notice the difference after a while. Of course, James’ ears had a normal amount of wax and didn’t need any suction. I will always be the odd one.
Sadly, I don’t think my hearing had dramatically improved since having all the wax removed. Therefore, I have a hearing test scheduled on Tuesday. Both Auris Ear Care at-home visits and hearing tests in general are still allowed under current UK lockdown rules as as essential appointments because ear problems can cause pain and dizziness.
Overall, I was very impressed with the Auris Ear Care at-home service. Dr. Rampuri and the team were very attentive and knowledgeable. I tend to prefer at-home treatments (like the IV Doc and Urban Massage) if possible as it takes the stress away from travelling to and from the office. My only constructive feedback is that Dr. Rampuri didn’t offer to take off his shoes or have overshoes to cover them up when he entered my home. While my house is full of dirt from muddy dog paws, other clients may have been concerned because it has snowed that day. James didn’t think it was a concern so not everybody may mind.
How often do you clean your ears? Would you prefer to have an at-home treatment for something like this or go to an office?
Thanks to Auris Ear Care for the complimentary service. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Jan 13, 2021 | clothes, product review
Am I the only one out there with an several drawers full of activewear? One drawer is all short sleeve tops (and is currently bursting open), another is half full of leggings and shorts (the rest is jeans) and then long sleeve tops are in my closet. I am not sure how I came up with this system but it seems to work for me. While I don’t think I need any more workout clothes, I do love technical kit that performs well. I tend to overheat easily meaning that my clothes need to keep me cool. I am also always cold, so the fabric needs to wick away moisture. We also try to wear our clothes at least twice to reduce the environmental impact of so much laundry which means it the material is anti-stink, that is an added bonus!
MyProtein got in touch a little while back about their new Power Ultra range. This line is designed to be moisture wicking and quick drying with light, soft fabrics that are also squat proof. I asked to try the Women’s Power Ultra Sports Bra in Midnight/Jade. Because I have a large chest and primarily do high impact sports, I am always wary of trying out different bras than the ones I know work for me. But I also always envy all the pretty sports bras with loads of fancy woven straps. The Power Ultra Sports Bra was promising. The straps are wide and therefore supportive. As soon as I unwrapped the bra, I took it out for a 5K and pleasantly surprised at how supportive it was. The bra also has removable pads should you want to be more modest in chilly temps or want to fill out your figure. The bra didn’t seem to be as supportive after a wash (line dry) but I adjusted the straps and that seemed to help. The straps can also be worn as a racerback, which makes it much more versatile.
For the Power Ultra Leggings, I thought I would mix it up with a different colour than black. The Galaxy/Lime is a great colour but not so great for muddy running. The fabric is smooth and very flattering. There is a high waist with a large pocket in the back of the waist band. The sides of the leggings also have the cutout detail to help regulate body temperature. I have really enjoyed running in mine but have stuck to the pavement to avoid getting them too dirty.
I have also worn these around the house and underneath rain pants on dog walks. They are super stretchy and comfortable. I can also confirm that they are squat proof.
This is the first time I have tried clothing from MyProtein and I am impressed with these two items. To be honest, I didn’t realize they had such a large clothing range. I hope they continue to develop their line to be put through its paces, not just worn for school drop offs and coffee runs. It needs to be able to perform. Eventually, I will be ready to get the leggings a bit muddy but for now I am enjoying them looking brand new (I put rain pants on right after we took this photo).
What kind of features do you look for in your activewear? Will you wear cotton or do you stick with technical fabrics? Let me know in the comments below.
Items were kindly gifted to me by MyProtein. All opinions are honest and my own.
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